…and I just finally realized why one of their favorite taunts is “you don’t think for yourselves, you just wait for someone to tell you what to think.” (not that they don’t do that up to 11, but.) The reason that they do this is because they think making up their own version what they prefer to believe in, and rejecting actual events which conflict with their invented mental constructs is totally right and normal. They’re mocking us for relying on verifiable facts and evidence because, in their minds, it means we refuse to make up our own version of reality in our heads and reject parts of actual reality that conflict with this. I used to have this problem myself, but close calls with an actual cult or two has somewhat cured me of this. I’ve learned to realize when I’m doing it, and when I see other people doing it. But they’re holding up confirmation bias and rationalization as positive traits. When confronted with evidence, they double down on the fantasy. Of course this means that conservatism in America today has morphed into an actual cult. See also: When Prophesy Fails.

In 1981, Richard O’Brien attempted to film a sequel to the famous “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The original storyline (Brad And Janet go to Frank N Furter’s home planet) could not be filmed due to the writer’s strike which was in full swing by then. He settled on a story which could be filmed on a soundstage: one in which Brad and Janet, Betty Hapschatt, and the Criminologist are forced to come to grips with a Denton, USA that is gradually being taken over by a narcissistic, media-obsessed Fast-Food mogul turned Reality TV show mastermind. Sound familiar?

In the spirit of that theme, I post this now. Whatever you do, do it anyhow. Even if you have to fight for it. Especially if you have to fight for it. And remember: the sun never sets on those who ride into it. We just gotta keep going.